Crispy Crisco Fried Chicken Recipe That Pops With Flavor

Crisco fried chicken recipe is a classic that holds a special place in home kitchens across the country.

It has been a beloved staple for generations, trusted by home cooks who know that simplicity often produces the most satisfying results.

Rich in tradition and easy to love, it fits perfectly at casual weeknight dinners and relaxed weekend gatherings alike.

Something about the deep, satisfying crunch paired with tender, juicy meat inside makes it a dish you keep coming back to time and again.

No matter where you are in your cooking journey, this recipe feels approachable and rewarding without any fuss.

Roll up your sleeves and head to the kitchen – a truly satisfying meal is well within reach.

Why You’ll Love Serving Crisco Fried Chicken

• Two Cooking Methods: You can either skillet-fry for a slower, more controlled approach or deep-fry if you want faster results, giving you flexibility based on your mood and available equipment.
• Minimal Prep Work: The double-coating technique using a zip-top bag keeps your hands relatively clean, and mixing the flour blend right in the bag means fewer bowls to wash afterward.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: This fried chicken satisfies both kids and adults at the table, making it practical when you need something that genuinely appeals to everyone in your household.
• Reliable Seasoning Blend: The combination of garlic salt, paprika, pepper, and poultry seasoning gives your chicken consistent, recognizable flavor without requiring you to hunt down unusual ingredients or experiment with measurements.

Which Ingredients Should Come First for Crisco Fried Chicken

• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour: Forms your crispy outer layer when combined with your seasonings.
• 2 teaspoons Garlic Salt, 1 teaspoon Paprika, 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper, 1/4 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning: Give your chicken its savory, aromatic flavor profile.

• 1/2 cup Milk: Milk helps the coating stick to the chicken pieces.
• 1 Egg, Slightly Beaten: Beaten egg works with the milk to create a binding layer for the flour coating.

• 2 1/2 to 3 pounds Chicken Pieces: Chicken pieces should be cut into manageable sizes for even cooking.
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups Crisco Shortening: Shortening needs to heat to 365 degrees Fahrenheit for skillet-frying or deep-frying, depending on your chosen method.

Tools to Have on Hand for Crisco Fried Chicken

• Medium Bowl: This is where you combine your milk and egg mixture before coating the chicken.
• Large Ziploc Bag: You’ll use this to shake together your flour and seasonings, then coat each piece of chicken thoroughly.
• Large Skillet: For the skillet-fry method, you need this to hold enough Crisco and cook your chicken in batches with proper spacing between pieces.
• Deep-Fryer: If you prefer deep-frying, this helps you maintain a consistent temperature and keeps your oil level steady throughout cooking.
• Thermometer: You depend on this to keep your oil at exactly 365 degrees Fahrenheit so your chicken cooks evenly and develops that golden crust.
• Wire Rack: Once your chicken finishes cooking, you place it here so excess oil drains away and your chicken stays crispy.
• Parchment Paper: Layer this under your wire rack to catch any drips and make cleanup easier once your fried chicken cools.
• Tongs or Slotted Spoon: These tools help you safely move hot chicken pieces in and out of the oil without splattering.

Full Process For Crisco Fried Chicken

Crisco Fried Chicken Cooking Insights To Follow

• Double-Coat For Crunch: After your chicken gets its first flour coating, dipping it back into the milk mixture and then into the flour bag again gives you that extra-crispy exterior that makes each bite satisfying.
• Use A Ziploc Bag For Easy Coating: Sealing the bag with your flour mixture and shaking everything together saves you from getting your hands messy and ensures the seasoning coats every piece evenly.
• Keep Your Oil Temperature Steady: Checking that your Crisco reaches 365 degrees before adding chicken matters because the temperature drops when cold meat hits the hot oil, and you need it hot enough to crisp the outside without burning it.
• Let It Drain Properly: Setting your finished chicken on a wire rack with parchment underneath lets the excess oil drip away instead of sitting in a puddle, so your chicken stays crispy rather than getting soggy.
• Choose Your Method Based On Time: If you’re in a rush, deep-frying takes 15 to 18 minutes total, but skillet-frying gives you more control and takes about 30 to 40 minutes if you have the time to tend to it.

New Takes On Crisco Fried Chicken

• Buttermilk Soak Method: Replace the milk and egg mixture with buttermilk, letting your chicken pieces soak in it for at least 2 hours before dredging; the acidity tenderizes the meat and adds tang to your coating.
• Spicy Cajun Version: Boost the seasoning by adding cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and a pinch of cayenne to your flour mixture, giving your chicken a deeper heat that builds nicely with each bite.
• Gluten-Free Coating: Swap regular flour for a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend in your bag, keeping the same amount and all other seasonings intact so your coating crisps up just as well.
• Herb-Forward Crust: Mix in dried thyme, oregano, and onion powder along with your existing seasonings, letting these herbs round out the flavor profile of your finished chicken.

Creative Pairing Tips For Crisco Fried Chicken

• Serve It Warm With Sides: Pair this fried chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, or buttered cornbread to round out your meal and let the crispy coating shine.
• Let It Rest Before Eating: Transfer the chicken to a wire rack after cooking so air circulates underneath and keeps the bottom from getting soggy while it cools slightly.
• Make It A Casual Family Dinner: This recipe works great for feeding a crowd since you can fry multiple batches and keep finished pieces warm in a low oven while others cook.
• Keep Your Oil At The Right Temperature: Using a thermometer takes the guesswork out of getting that golden, crispy exterior without burning the coating or leaving raw chicken inside.

How To Store Crisco Fried Chicken For Later

• Keep your fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days, and the coating stays crispy because the parchment paper underneath absorbs any excess moisture.
• Let your chicken cool completely before storing it, since putting warm food directly in the fridge creates condensation that makes the outside soggy.
• Freeze your leftover pieces in a freezer bag for up to three months, and when you reheat them in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes, the texture comes back almost as good as fresh.
• Separate your chicken from any drippings or sauce before storing to keep the coating from getting damp, and store them in different containers so your fried chicken stays crunchy.

FAQs

Crisco Fried Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes-1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

When you make crisco fried chicken, you get crispy, golden pieces that stay juicy on the inside because Crisco keeps the oil at just the right temperature. Your family will be passing plates around the table before you even set down the platter, so you better fry up a big batch.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Base ingredients:

• 2.5 pounds chicken pieces

Wet mixture:

• 0.5 cup milk
• 1 egg, slightly beaten

Coating and seasonings:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Cooking fat:

• 1.5 cups Crisco shortening

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Whisk together 1/2 cup milk and 1 egg in a medium bowl, then set it aside for coating.
2. Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons garlic salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning in a large Ziploc bag and shake until everything is evenly mixed.
3. Add your 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of chicken pieces to the bag a few at a time and shake thoroughly so each piece gets fully coated in the flour mixture.
4. Take each flour-coated chicken piece and dip it into your milk-egg mixture, then return it to the flour bag for a second coating and shake again.
5. Heat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Crisco shortening in your large skillet to 365 degrees Fahrenheit on medium-high heat, making sure the melted shortening reaches 1/2 to 2 inches up the sides of the pan.
6. Place your chicken pieces into the hot shortening and cook them on all sides until the exterior turns golden brown, which takes roughly 8 to 10 minutes total.
7. Reduce your heat to 275 degrees Fahrenheit on medium-low and continue cooking your chicken, turning the pieces over several times, until the meat becomes tender inside, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
8. Transfer your finished chicken onto a wire rack lined with parchment paper so any excess shortening can drip away as it cools.
9. If your prefer deep-frying instead, heat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Crisco in your deep-fryer to 365 degrees Fahrenheit and fry your chicken pieces until they turn golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes total.
10. Transfer your deep-fried chicken onto a wire rack lined with parchment paper to drain and cool.

Notes

• The double-coating method; dipping chicken in the egg mixture between flour coatings; creates that extra-crispy exterior that makes fried chicken so satisfying to bite into.
• Getting your Crisco to exactly 365 degrees before adding chicken makes a real difference; if it’s too cool, your coating absorbs oil and becomes greasy instead of crispy.
• Letting coated chicken rest in the flour mixture for a few minutes before the egg dip helps the second coat stick better and fry up crunchier.
• Transferring finished chicken to a wire rack instead of a plate lets air circulate underneath, keeping the bottom from getting soggy as it cools.

• Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
• Category: More Fried Chicken
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 850 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 1200 mg
• Fat: 70 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 45 g
• Trans Fat: 2 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 50 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg